Source Documents

Magistrate Court Disposal/Carry Forward Rate

In the Magistrates Court, the caseload is managed by the senior magistrate who apportions the caseload among the courts available. In Penang (Georgetown), 90% of the criminal caseload involved Dangerous Drugs Act, most of the accused were unrepresented and entered guilty pleas.

The data shows that in 2011, the 157 magistrates processed 1,238 each – averaging 103 cases per magistrate per month. This caseload is high and places considerable pressure on individual magistrates, especially as at present, it is predicated on swift disposal through guilty pleas. When the National Legal Aid Foundation provides legal representation to the accused, this may change (see slide 12 Legal Aid Cases).